GROVES — A Groves man had a bit of a shock when a creditor called about missed payments on the Jaguar he bought late last year.

“She was trying to ask me about my note and I said ‘what note?’” Albert said, who asked not to use his full name.

That’s when he learned he was the victim of identity theft and that someone used his Texas driver’s license and other identifying information to buy a $71,000 Jaguar in Jacksonville, Florida.

Groves Police Chief Deputy Kirk Rice said the victim reported that he received a call from Jaguar Gulf Coast in Mobile, Alabama, inquiring about a Jaguar vehicle that he had recently purchased. The victim told them that he did not recently purchase a vehicle.

Albert said he was shocked to find out that someone used his identity to buy a Jaguar.

“I didn’t think I’d ever qualify for a Jaguar,” he said with a laugh. “I didn’t even get to take it out for a spin.”

Joking aside, Albert has no idea who stole his identity or when it was stolen, but he does remember seeing something out of the ordinary on his credit report — an unusual bill.

“I thought it was my house note and that it had been paid down a bit. Then I went back and looked after she (the creditor) called.”

Albert has filed a police report and is making a report on www.identitytheft.gov but the damage will take a while to recover from. His credit score went from the 800’s to the 600’s and he was denied a small loan he applied for before he knew of the issue.

Rice advises the public to check their bank statements for any unauthorized charges or withdrawals and check their credit report.